Marathon races near Clisson

The Ekiden de Nantes by Decathlon Atlantis is an October marathon relay in Nantes, where teams of six cover the full 42.195 km distance together. It begins at 10:00 AM and is organized by Nantes Métropole Athlétisme. Instead of one runner completing the entire marathon, the team divides it into legs of 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 7.195 km, allowing beginners, regular runners, and faster club athletes to participate in the same lineup. The course is constructed around a 5 km loop within the city’s sports district, utilizing the area surrounding the Nantes racecourse and Pierre Quinon Stadium. It is officially measured and certified, and the event can qualify teams for the French Ekiden Championships, appealing to both social teams and runners aiming for a specific time. Friends, clubs, students, companies, and workplace teams all participate, with a separate Challenge Entreprise promoting company squads. The race village manages bib pickup and provides a central meeting point for teams and spectators, while registrations also include an optional donation to Ma Parenthèse, an association supporting women affected by breast cancer.

Des Marais et des Bosses begins at La Carrière in Saint-Herblain, near Nantes, sending participants on a 10.5 km loop through marshland and a quarry. This mid-November event is for teams, with pairs and fours working together in a progressive relay. Shorter courses for children and juniors are also offered, alongside listed distances of 1.5 km, 5 km, 21 km, and 42 km. The main relay features a unique format: the first runner begins solo, and teammates join sequentially at the start of each new loop, ensuring the entire team finishes together. For the four-person relay, runner one completes 42 km, runner two 31.5 km, runner three 21 km, and runner four 10.5 km. In the two-person version, the distances are 21 km and 10.5 km. Outdoor Club Herblinois organizes the race, which appeals to friends, families, colleagues, beginners, and more experienced runners seeking a shared experience over individual achievement.

Gaubre’Trail is a trail-running series held in La Gaubretière, Vendée, western France. Its winter race takes place at night, offering two adult distances: 10 km with 150 m of elevation gain and 20 km with 300 m of elevation gain. Participants must be 18 or older; non-licensed runners require a medical certificate prior to the event. The summer edition begins in the park of the Château de la Landebaudière and attracts a larger field, with over 1,300 participants across its various races. Its past offerings included 7 km, 14 km, 21 km, and 42 km options, alongside children’s races for ages 3 to 15 on courses ranging from 500 m to 1.5 km. The event has seen rapid growth, with participation increasing from approximately 980 runners to over 1,300. The château park provides a natural setting, distinguishing it from a typical town-center road race.

The Semi-Marathon d'Orvault takes place in Orvault, a town in Loire-Atlantique near Nantes, during the early days of March as winter concludes. The primary event is the half marathon, complemented by a 10 km race that begins at the same morning time. This setup accommodates runners aiming for 21.1 km and those preferring a shorter, more accessible distance. The course begins with an extended straight section through the town before venturing into the nearby countryside. Participants will encounter city streets, roads bordered by forests, and park paths, deviating from a purely urban circuit. The half marathon is described as a flat course conducive to achieving personal bests, despite featuring approximately 192 meters of elevation gain; the 10 km course includes about 112 meters. Annually, close to 2,000 runners participate in this event, which boasts a history spanning roughly forty years. Following the race, Parc du Bois Saint-Louis offers a tranquil setting to recover.

The Semi-marathon de la ville d'Orvault is a road race held in early March in Orvault, a town in France's Loire-Atlantique department, within the Pays de la Loire region. Participants can select either a 10 km race or a half marathon covering 21.0975 km. This setup accommodates beginners, those with some running experience, and individuals aiming for a fast half marathon during the cool late-winter weather. The half marathon begins with an extended straight section before transitioning from town streets to rural roads, forest peripheries, and broad park paths. Sections of both the 10 km and half marathon routes overlap. The course features local points of interest such as the Grand Calvaire d'Orvault and the Chateau de la Tour. While the half marathon is relatively fast, it includes 192 meters of elevation gain; the 10 km course has 112 meters. Local residents and volunteers support the participants along the route, contributing to a welcoming, community atmosphere. Parc du Bois Saint-Louis offers a place to relax post-race.

The Semi-Marathon du Massif Forestier de Nuaillé begins in Nuaillé, located in Maine-et-Loire within France’s Pays de la Loire region. This road race, held in late March, centers on the forest bordering the town. The primary event is a 21.0975 km half marathon, complemented by an 8.2 km nature run and events for children and juniors. Handisport athletes are included, making the day more inclusive than a single competitive field. The event originated in 1985 and typically attracts over 3,000 participants across all its races. The course crosses roads through forest, town, and natural landscapes, featuring local plant and animal life. It is suitable for runners aiming for a personal best and those testing their endurance over the half-marathon distance. The race holds an Athlé Label Route OR certification, and organizers provide pacemakers to assist runners in maintaining target speeds. A time limit at kilometer 17 imposes a pacing requirement for the latter part of the half marathon.

The Semi-marathon du Massif Forestier takes runners into the Nuaillé-Chanteloup forest near Nuaillé, in France's Pays de la Loire region, for a 21.097 km road-certified half marathon. Held since 1985 and typically scheduled in spring, the event also features an 8.2 km nature run, children's races, and team challenges. This variety attracts beginners, club runners, experienced athletes, families, and local groups, not just half-marathon specialists. The half marathon begins in Nuaillé, following two loops through the woods and forest roads of the massif. Over 3,500 participants are anticipated across all races, with the half marathon holding Athlé Label Route OR certification. The course highlights the local forest wildlife, such as roe deer, stags, and does. Pacers will be available for 1h30, 1h40, 1h50, and 2h00 finishes. A cutoff point is set at 17 km after 2h10, making the event accessible to many while maintaining the structure of a serious road race.

The Abalone Marathon de Nantes is an April race weekend in Nantes, with a full marathon, half marathon, 10 km, and a marathon relay. The main race covers 42.195 km on a fully urban course, starting at the Nefs of the Machines de l'Ile, beside the city's famous mechanical creations. It has been run annually since 1981 and was called Marathon Val Nantais until its current era. The marathon route uses the city center as its playground, running by the Loire, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Canal Saint-Felix, Place Royale, the Cathedral, Jardin des Plantes, Place Graslin, the Opera, the Cité des Congrès, the Erdre quays, and the Machines de l'Ile. A new organizing team brought the race back downtown after the old Val Nantais period, and runner numbers climbed from roughly 1,600 starters to around 3,000 within a few editions. The event also includes pace setters in each marathon corral, a bib-pickup village, music on the course, cooling stations, and aid tables with dried fruit, sugar, and gingerbread.